I have always liked the idea of different characters taking oaths for different reasons. I don't feel that this should be limited to just Paladins, who are forced to follow their oaths or possibly become Oathbreakers. This is the '0.5 version' of this so input is appreciated.
1) Any character of any Class may take an Oath, either when their character is created or during play (with the DM's permission). An Oath may not contradict an existing Oath (such as a Paladin Oath). The DM is encouraged to allow new Oaths during pivotal moments of their plotline such as a great defeat or the death of a meaningful character or NPC.
2) Oaths may take one of three forms: Simple, Martial, or Lifetime. These are in ascending order of scale so Simple Oaths should be the easiest to take and thus more common.
3) A Simple Oath is exactly that; an Oath that is relatively simple to follow. Oaths to not eat meat, or to always carry a certain favor, or to always wear a certain color or device are good examples. Such Oaths can be easily blended into a character's Background and are mainly for RP purposes. A character that takes a Simple Oath gains either one Skill Proficiency or one Language. If possible, the trait gained should match the Oath (such as a Monk taking an Oath not to eat meat because his master did not and this same master also taught an additional Skill or Language).
If a Simple Oath is broken, the character can either reaffirm the Oath (and suffer a play session or three with a slight penalty as dictated by the DM), or simply lose the benefits of the Oath.
4) A Martial Oath is much more serious and so more difficult to follow and with commensurate rewards. A Martial Oath MUST be related to combat in some way, such as swearing not to attack from hiding, only using edged weapons (or never using edged weapons), never using a shield, and so on. The benefits are a +1 to hit with a specific damage type (Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing) as well as Melee or Ranged (thus an Oath of Piercing Ranged would work for arrows but not a Rapier) as well as the appropriate Tool Proficiency to maintain the weapon in question. Martial Oaths should be strictly enforced by the DM and the player should not make efforts to circumvent the spirit of the Oath.
If a Martial Oath is Broken, the character will suffer a penalty with the chosen weapons (-1 to Hit AND -1 Damage) for a number of play sessions dictated by the DM. Renewing of the Oath should be a task not undertaken lightly and could result in anything for a loss of downtime to a quest to reaffirm the Oath or possibly replace it with a new one.
5) A Lifetime Oath is meant to be highly restrictive and should only be allowed by the DM under rare circumstances. As the name implies, this Oath is taken for the lifetime of the character and should end only upon the character's permanent death.
(This is the part where I'm stuck and looking for suggestions. I can't figure out WHO the character is sworn to, either a PC or an NPC, or what the benefits and drawbacks would be. Input requested!)
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I have always liked the idea of different characters taking oaths for different reasons. I don't feel that this should be limited to just Paladins, who are forced to follow their oaths or possibly become Oathbreakers. This is the '0.5 version' of this so input is appreciated.
1) Any character of any Class may take an Oath, either when their character is created or during play (with the DM's permission). An Oath may not contradict an existing Oath (such as a Paladin Oath). The DM is encouraged to allow new Oaths during pivotal moments of their plotline such as a great defeat or the death of a meaningful character or NPC.
2) Oaths may take one of three forms: Simple, Martial, or Lifetime. These are in ascending order of scale so Simple Oaths should be the easiest to take and thus more common.
3) A Simple Oath is exactly that; an Oath that is relatively simple to follow. Oaths to not eat meat, or to always carry a certain favor, or to always wear a certain color or device are good examples. Such Oaths can be easily blended into a character's Background and are mainly for RP purposes. A character that takes a Simple Oath gains either one Skill Proficiency or one Language. If possible, the trait gained should match the Oath (such as a Monk taking an Oath not to eat meat because his master did not and this same master also taught an additional Skill or Language).
If a Simple Oath is broken, the character can either reaffirm the Oath (and suffer a play session or three with a slight penalty as dictated by the DM), or simply lose the benefits of the Oath.
4) A Martial Oath is much more serious and so more difficult to follow and with commensurate rewards. A Martial Oath MUST be related to combat in some way, such as swearing not to attack from hiding, only using edged weapons (or never using edged weapons), never using a shield, and so on. The benefits are a +1 to hit with a specific damage type (Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing) as well as Melee or Ranged (thus an Oath of Piercing Ranged would work for arrows but not a Rapier) as well as the appropriate Tool Proficiency to maintain the weapon in question. Martial Oaths should be strictly enforced by the DM and the player should not make efforts to circumvent the spirit of the Oath.
If a Martial Oath is Broken, the character will suffer a penalty with the chosen weapons (-1 to Hit AND -1 Damage) for a number of play sessions dictated by the DM. Renewing of the Oath should be a task not undertaken lightly and could result in anything for a loss of downtime to a quest to reaffirm the Oath or possibly replace it with a new one.
5) A Lifetime Oath is meant to be highly restrictive and should only be allowed by the DM under rare circumstances. As the name implies, this Oath is taken for the lifetime of the character and should end only upon the character's permanent death.
(This is the part where I'm stuck and looking for suggestions. I can't figure out WHO the character is sworn to, either a PC or an NPC, or what the benefits and drawbacks would be. Input requested!)